Fergus Simpson

1 month ago | rfr.bz | Latoya Abulu |Jonathan Moens |Thomas A. Bauer |Fergus Simpson

The escalating armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has had significant — and overlooked — environmental impacts. The rate of tree cover loss in Kahuzi-Biega and Virunga National Parks has sharply increased since the conflict reignited in late 2021. Armed groups, both state and non-state, have profited by taxing the illegal charcoal and timber trade coming from inside these protected areas.